Algeria burdens suppliers with a hostile decision that prohibits them from dealing with Moroccan ports
The Professional Association of Banks and Financial Institutions in Algeria has banned all shipping or transit operations through Moroccan ports, a move that could escalate import costs
Algerian companies are now prohibited from importing or exporting any goods passing through Moroccan ports by an official decision from their authorities. This unexpected move is poised to impact the country’s reliance on imports, coming just a few days after Algeria closed its doors to loans for several countries that discussed joining the international initiative launched by the Moroccan King, Mohammed VI. The initiative aims to facilitate their access to the Atlantic Ocean, discussed in Marrakech.
The Professional Association of Banks and Financial Institutions in Algeria informed the managers of Algerian ports that “in the context of foreign trade operations, any localization of transport contracts that involve re-shipping or transit through Moroccan ports is rejected.” This information was reported by the Moroccan website “Assahifa.”
The relevant authorities urged “economic actors to ensure that shipping or transit operations through Moroccan ports are not carried out.”
This decision imposes financial burdens on Algerian importers who will have to request shipping companies to avoid passing ships through Moroccan ports, especially the Tangier Mediterranean port, thereby increasing costs.
Moroccan news website “Akhbarona” quoted economic expert Mohsen Al-Jafari saying, “The only affected by this decision are Algerian businessmen,” noting that they “will bear the additional cost of replacing Moroccan ports adjacent to their country.”
This is not the first time Algerian authorities have taken an antagonistic economic decision. In July 2022, the Professional Association of Banks and Financial Institutions in Algeria took a similar measure to halt trade with Spain after Madrid declared its recognition of the Moroccan Sahara and endorsed the autonomy proposal under the sovereignty of the Kingdom.
In late December, Algeria closed the loan accounts granted to the governments of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Benin, which joined the Moroccan international initiative aimed at facilitating the access of Sahelian countries to the Atlantic Ocean.
It appears that the enthusiasm of African countries to join the Moroccan initiative dealt a painful blow to Algerian diplomacy. Algeria’s attempts to strengthen its influence in the region seem to have failed.
In his speech on the 48th anniversary of the Green March, King Mohammed VI called for “enabling the group of Sahelian countries to access the Atlantic Ocean for their benefit,” emphasizing that the success of this initiative remains dependent on upgrading the infrastructure for Sahelian countries and connecting them to regional transport and communication networks.
He stated, “Africa now needs more than ever bold and innovative initiatives to encourage private entrepreneurship and unleash its full potential for our continent.”
Observers believe that the strong start of the Atlantic initiative has deepened the state of confusion in Algerian diplomacy. Recent decisions and actions, including its failure to block Morocco’s presidency of the Human Rights Council, signal further isolation internationally.
